COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
University of Maryland women's lacrosse coach Cindy Timchal has announced a list of six prep student-athletes who have officially signed national letters of intent to join the Terrapins in the 2001-2002 school year and will begin play in `02.

"We are very excited with the group of recruits that have chosen to sign with us for the 2002 season," said coach Cindy Timchal. "We went after players that we feel are amongst the top players in the country and we were able to bring them to Maryland. It is a real good group both from the aspect of their play and talent, as well as their character."

"The signing of a player like Acacia Walker is very exciting to our staff because we like to keep the best players from the state of Maryland in the state of Maryland. That is not to say that we aren't just as happy when we sign a great player from another state - it just makes us happy to keep the great players that play in this state close to home."

Maryland opens play for the 2001 season on March 2, 2001 (vs. Duke), as the six-time defending NCAA Champion. The Terrapins are coming off of a season that saw them finish 21-1, winning their final 20 games en route to the national championship.

Bios for Maryland's 2001-2002 Signees:

Jessica Dorney

Attack

Gaithersburg, Md./Quince Orchard HS

Has scored 210 goals in her prep career...earned team Most Valuable Player honors for three straight years (1998-00)...an honorable mention All-America in 2000...Gaithersburg Gazette Player of the Year in 2000...honorable mention all-Metro selection in 1998, `99 and `00...first team all-county in 1999 and 2000...three-year starter and an all-county selection in field hockey at Quince Orchard...Father played lacrosse at Virginia.

Kristie Leggio

Midfield

Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore HS

A four-year starter at Bay Shore HS...team won Division Tri-Championship in spring of 1998 and was Division Champ in 1999...an all-county selection in 1998 and 1999...named team Most Valuable Player in 1999...a New York State Scholar-Athletic Team selection in 1998...also lettered four years in soccer...attended the same high school as Maryland freshman Molly Lambert.

Kirah Miles

Goalie

Bryn Mawr, Pa./The Agnes Irwin School

Three-year varsity starter at The Agnes Irwin School...widely considered one of the top two goalies in the Philadelphia area...A league all-star and PASLA selection...had a 66 percent save rate as a sophomore and a 55 percent rate as a junior against tougher competition...also lettered in soccer and volleyball and was captain for all three sports (including lacrosse)...trains with both former All-American Linda Roth and former Terrapin All-American Alex Kahoe, who also graduated from The Agnes Irwin School...head of her school's Athletic Association.

Meredith O'Brien

Attack

Hingham, Mass./Thayer Academy

A 28-game starter at Thayer Academy, the same school that produced current Terp Kerri Mulligan and former Terp standout Kelly Amonte...scored 45 goals with 13 assists in two years on the varsity at Thayer...an ISL honorable mention and all-league selection...New England Coaches Association honorable mention as a junior...most valuable offensive player at the Nike Lacrosse Camp in 1999...also played soccer and basketball in high school.

Megan Sommar

Attack

North Wales, Pa./North Penn HS

A three-year letterwinner at North Penn HS...an all-league selection in 1998 and team MVP in 1997...a 20-game starter in 1999, a season that saw her score 16 goals to go with 20 assists...earned all-league honorable mention in 1999 and was named a Schoolgirl All-Star...also lettered in field hockey and basketball...an Academic Award winner...sister of former All-America Kristin Sommar and current sophomore Katie Sommar.

Acacia Walker

Midfield

Sherwood Forest, Md./Annapolis HS

A four-year letterwinner at Annapolis Senior High School...a 2000 first-team All-America selection...member of the U.S. under 19 lacrosse team that went undefeated en route to the World Championship in Perth, Australia...a 1999 honorable mention All-America...an all-county selection in 1998, `99 and `00...an All-Metro selection by the Baltimore Sun, as well as an athlete-of-the-week selection by the Sun...a scholar-athlete at AHS...school has won two of the last three state championships...also lettered in soccer and basketball.